Castle Air Museum
Castle Air Museum is a military aviation museum located in Atwater, California, United States adjacent to Castle Airport, a former United States Air Force Strategic Air Command base which was closed in 1995, after the end of the Cold War. It is one of the largest aerospace museums displaying vintage aircraft in the western United States.
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![]() ![]() Location within California ![]() ![]() Castle Air Museum (the United States) | |
Established | 20 June 1981 |
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Location | 5050 Santa Fe Drive Atwater, California 95301 |
Coordinates | 37.36475°N 120.577944°W |
Type | Military aviation museum |
Founder | |
Website | www |
History and information
The museum opened with 12 aircraft on 20 June 1981 as a branch of the United States Air Force Museum system.[3] Only four months later, an additional four aircraft were placed on display.[4] Then in 1983, an audit criticized leadership for poor accountability of resources, displaying aircraft outside the museum's mission, and lack of security.[5] When Castle Air Force Base was closed in April 1995 and became Castle Airport, the museum similarly became private.[6][7][lower-alpha 1] The loss of federal funding eventually caused financial problems for the museum.[9]
It currently displays over 60 restored World War II, Korean War, Cold War, and modern era aircraft. The outdoor museum covers 11 acres (45,000 m2), and among the exhibit highlights are a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird (one of only 19 surviving), a Boeing B-52D Stratofortress, and the massive, ten-engined Convair RB-36H Peacemaker, one of only four surviving and the largest mass-produced piston aircraft in history. An indoor museum features artifacts, photographs, uniforms, war memorabilia, aircraft engines, and a restored B-52 Stratofortress flight deck. A crew of volunteers restores and maintains the aircraft on display.[10] The museum also hosts a periodic Open House in which visitors can view the interiors of certain planes.
In May 2008, the museum reached its 50th displayed aircraft milestone with the addition of a Douglas A-4L Skyhawk. The aircraft was shipped to the museum in August 2006, and restored at a cost of $12,000.[10]
In October 2013, the Museum received a retired VC-9C aircraft that had previously served during several administrations as an alternate Air Force One and Air Force Two aircraft when use of the primary VC-137 or VC-25 was impractical.[11] Vice presidents such as Al Gore and Dick Cheney, and First Ladies such as Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, and Hillary Clinton, as well as presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, were among the individuals who used the plane.[11]
In 2021, the museum received 5 aircraft from Naval Air Museum Barbers Point, which had closed two years prior.[12][13][14]
An McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II was moved to the museum in July 2023.[15]
Alleged paranormal occurrences
The B-29A Superfortress exhibit is reported to be haunted by a spirit named "Arthur."[16] Museum management has reported that visitors, including paranormal investigators, have heard knocking and footsteps from inside the plane. In addition, lights in the aircraft have been known to turn on and off, and the propellers are known to turn even though they are locked in place. An apparition has allegedly been photographed on several occasions, and paranormal researchers claim to have detected anomalous readings on their equipment.[17] The paranormal occurrences have been featured on an episode of UPN's Real Ghosts (1995).
Collection










Name | Role | Class | Introduced | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Avro-Canada CF-100 Mk.V Canuck | Interceptor | Jet | 1952 | |
Avro Vulcan B.2 | Strategic Bomber | Jet | 1958 | |
Beech C-45G Expeditor | Utility | Propeller | 1937 | Military version of the Beechcraft Model 18 |
Beech YT-34 Mentor | Trainer | Propeller | 1953 | Military version of the Beechcraft Bonanza |
Bell AH-1 SuperCobra | Attack | Helicopter | 1971 | |
Bell H-13 Sioux | Transport | Helicopter | 1948 | Military version of the Bell 47 |
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress | Bomber | Propeller | 1937 | |
Boeing B-29A Superfortress | Bomber | Propeller | 1944 | |
Boeing B-47E Stratojet | Strategic Bomber | Jet | 1951 | |
Boeing B-52D Stratofortress | Strategic Bomber | Jet | 1955 | |
Boeing CH-47D Chinook | Transport | Helicopter | 1962 | |
Boeing F/A-18C Hornet | Fighter | Jet | 1987 | |
Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter | Tanker | Propeller | 1951 | |
Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker | Tanker | Jet | 1957 | |
Boeing WB-50 Superfortress | Bomber/Weather Reconnaissance | Propeller | 1948 | |
Cessna C-150 | Utility | Propeller | 1957 | |
Cessna O-2A Super Skymaster | Observation | Propeller | 1967 | Military version of the Cessna Skymaster |
Cessna T-37B Tweet | Trainer | Jet | 1957 | Trainer Experimental (TX) program |
Cessna U-3A Blue Canoe | Utility | Propeller | 1957 | Military version of the Cessna 310 |
Cessna UC-78 Bamboo Bomber | Bomber | Propeller | 1943 | Military version of the Cessna T-50 |
Consolidated B-24M Liberator | Bomber | Propeller | 1941 | Used by the 93rd Bomb Group |
Convair B-58A Hustler | Strategic Bomber | Jet | 1960 | |
Convair F-102A Delta Dagger | Interceptor | Jet | 1956 | |
Convair F-106A Delta Dart | Interceptor | Jet | 1959 | |
Convair HC-131 Samaritan | Transport | Propeller | 1950 | Military version of the Convair CV-240 |
Convair RB-36H Peacemaker | Strategic Bomber/Reconnaissance | Jet/Propeller | 1949 | |
Curtiss C-46D Commando | Transport | Propeller | 1941 | |
de Havilland Canada L-20 Beaver | Utility | Propeller | 1948 | Military version of the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver |
Douglas A-26B Invader | Bomber | Propeller | 1943 | |
Douglas A-4L Skyhawk | Attack Fighter | Jet | 1956 | |
Douglas B-18 Bolo | Bomber | Propeller | 1936 | Developed from the Douglas DC-2 |
Douglas B-23 Dragon | Bomber | Propeller | 1939 | Developed from the Douglas B-18 Bolo |
Douglas C-47 Skytrain | Transport | Propeller | 1941 | Military version of the Douglas DC-3 |
Douglas R5D-4 Skymaster | Transport | Propeller | 1942 | Military version of the Douglas DC-4 |
Douglas RA-3B Skywarrior | Strategic Bomber | Jet | 1956 | |
Douglas SBD-4 Dauntless | Scout/Bomber | Propeller | 1940 | |
Fairchild C-119C Flying Boxcar | Transport | Propeller | 1949 | Developed from the Fairchild C-82 Packet |
Fairchild C-123K Provider | Transport | Propeller | 1956 | Developed from the Chase XCG-20 |
General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon | Fighter | Jet | 1978 | |
General Dynamics FB-111A Aardvark | Strategic Bomber | Jet | 1967 | |
Grumman A-6E Intruder | Fighter | Jet | 1970 | |
Grumman F-14D Tomcat | Fighter | Jet | 1974 | |
Grumman HU-16B Albatross | Amphibious Rescue | Propeller | 1949 | Developed from the Grumman Mallard |
Grumman S-2 Tracker | Anti-submarine Warfare | Propeller | 1954 | |
Kaman HH-43B Huskie | Firefighting/Search and Rescue | Helicopter | 1953 | |
Lockheed C-56 Lodestar | Transport | Propeller | 1940 | Military version of the Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar |
Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star | Recon | Propeller | 1954 | Military version of the Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation |
Lockheed F-80B Shooting Star | Fighter | Jet | 1945 | |
Lockheed F-104B Starfighter | Interceptor | Jet | 1958 | |
Lockheed F-94A Starfire | Interceptor | Jet | 1950 | Developed from the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star |
Lockheed MC-130P Combat Shadow | Transport | Propeller | 1986 | |
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird | Strategic Reconnaissance | Jet | 1966 | Developed from the Lockheed A-12 |
Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star | Trainer | Jet | 1948 | Developed from the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star |
Martin EB-57A Canberra | Strategic Bomber/Reconnaissance | Jet | 1951 | Developed from the British English Electric Canberra |
McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle | Fighter | Jet | 1976 | |
McDonnell Douglas VC-9C | Executive Transport | Jet | 1968 | Military version of the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 |
McDonnell F-101B Voodoo | Fighter | Jet | 1957 | |
McDonnell F-4E Phantom | Fighter | Jet | 1960 | |
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 | Fighter/Interceptor | Jet | 1956 | |
North American AT-6 Texan | Trainer | Propeller | 1937 | |
North American B-25J Mitchell | Bomber | Propeller | 1941 | |
North American B-45A Tornado | Strategic Bomber | Jet | 1948 | |
North American F-86H Sabre | Fighter | Jet | 1949 | Developed from the North American FJ-1 Fury |
North American F-100 Super Sabre | Fighter | Jet | 1954 | Developed from the North American F-86 Sabre |
North American RA-5C Vigilante | Strategic Bomber/Reconnaissance | Jet | 1961 | |
North American T-39 Saberliner | Trainer/Utility | Jet | 1962 | Utility Trainer Experimental (UTX) program |
Northrop F-89J Scorpion | Interceptor | Jet | 1950 | |
Northrop T-38 Talon | Trainer | Jet | 1961 | |
Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler | Electronic Warfare | Jet | 1971 | Developed from the Grumman A-6 Intruder |
Republic F-84C Thunderjet | Fighter Bomber | Jet | 1947 | |
Republic F-84F Thunderstreak | Fighter Bomber | Jet | 1954 | Developed from the Republic F-84 Thunderjet |
Republic F-105B Thunderchief | Fighter Bomber | Jet | 1958 | |
Saab TF 35 Draken | Fighter | Jet | 1960 | |
Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk | Utility | Helicopter | 1983 | Developed from the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk |
Schweizer TG-3A | Utility | Glider | 1942 | |
Stinson L-5 Sentinel | Utility | Propellor | 1941 | Developed from the Stinson Voyager |
Vought RF-8G Crusader | Fighter/Reconnaissance | Jet | 1957 | |
Vultee BT-13 Valiant | Trainer | Propeller | 1939 |
Name | Type | Introduced |
---|---|---|
AGM-28 Hound Dog | Cruise Missile | 1959 |
GAM-63 Rascal | Nuclear Air-to-Surface Missile | 1952 |
MB-1C | B-58 Nuclear Weapons Pod | |
Kawasaki KAQ-1 | UAV/Target Drone | 1950 |
MK. 17 | Thermonuclear Bomb | 1954 |
NASA "Hyperglider" | Experimental Vehicle | |
Norden Mk. XV | Declassified Bombsight | |
Ryan BQM-34 | UAV/Target Drone | 1955 |
References
Footnotes
- Around the same time, an effort to have the museum's B-24 transferred to the Imperial War Museum Duxford was blocked.[8]
Citations
- Miller, Brittany (29 June 2023). "Air Museum unveils Cliff James Memorial". Merced County Times. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- Yawger, Doane (26 November 2011). "Man instrumental in Castle's success has a homecoming". Merced Sun-Star. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- "World War II Air Force Memories Will Abound at Castle Museum". West Side Index. 18 June 1981. p. 11. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- "Museum Unveils Four New Planes". Merced Sun-Star. 15 October 1981. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- McCarthy, Charles (24 March 1983). "Castle Museum Audit Brings New Plan for Running Display". Fresno Bee. pp. B1, B4. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
- "Face Lift on Tap for Air Museum's 'Movie Stars'". The Sun. McClatchy. 3 January 1995. p. B6. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- Carlson, Ken (13 June 1995). "Castle Museum Looks to Future". Merced Sun-Star. pp. A1, A6. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- Doyle, Michael; Khanh, Truong Phuoc (16 May 1995). "Castle's Rare Warplane Attracts Overseas Interest". The Fresno Bee. p. B2. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- "Castle Air Museum Struggling to Stay Open". Visalia Times-Delta. 30 November 2002. p. 2C. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- Keeler, Guy (2008-04-08). "A safe landing". Fresno Bee. Archived from the original on 2013-01-29. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
- Yawger, Doane (16 October 2013). "Former Air Force One lands at Castle in Atwater". Merced Sun-Star. Archived from the original on 29 January 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- Lopez, Peter (8 December 2021). "Historic warbirds, artifacts making their way to Castle Air Museum in Atwater". FOX26News. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- Sembritzki, Halle (10 December 2021). "Atwater Castle Air Museum receives 5 historic aircraft from Hawaii following 80th anniversary of Pearl Harbor". YourCentralValley.com. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- Kuhn, Andrew (20 February 2022). "Castle Air Museum expands aircraft collection with addition of vintage helicopters". Merced Sun-Star. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via Yahoo! News.
- "Phantom 'Bunny' aircraft hops down Highway 58 to new home at Castle Air Museum". Bakersfield Now. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- "There's Something Inside Museum's Restored B-29". Salinas Californian. 2 October 1981. p. 19.
- Ghost Trackers article on the allegedly haunted B29 at Castle Air Museum Archived 2007-08-12 at the Wayback Machine
- "Castle Air Museum Aircraft Collection". Castle Air Museum. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
Bibliography
- Castle Air Museum Visitor's Guide
- City of Atwater – Approved Annexations
External links
